Sucker rod locking means



p 1941- c. H. M. BULL 2,255,695

SUCKER ROD LOCKING MEANS Filed May 12, 1938 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCKER ROD LOCKING MEANS Clinton H. M. Bull, Grove City, Ohio Application May 12, 1938, Serial No. 207,626

(CL 28'l.119)

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pump rods and more particularly to pump rod sections having means for joining one section with another to form a pump rod made up or a plurality of rod sections.

An object of this invention is to provide a pump or sucker rod for oil wells or the like comprising at least two pump rod sections, each rod section having a socket formed at one end and the other end having a part adapted to extend into the socket of another section, the extending part being provided with locking members disposed in spaced relation axially, and a key carried by the extending part that is adapted to cause the locking members to be moved into engagement with the walls of the socket to join the rod sections together.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide two rod sections having locking members for interlocking their ends together, and having a key disposed in axial openings in the rods that is adapted to actuate the locking members by being moved one way or the other in the axial openings, the rod sections each being provided with a transverse opening intersecting the axial opening therein so that a member having a cam surface may be inserted in either of the transverse openings to cause movement of the key to lock and unlock the rod sections.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a key which, in addition to being capable of use as a device for locking the pump rod sections with one another, may also be used as a device for mechanically forcing the rod sections apart when it is desirable to disconnect the rod sections.

A still further object is to utilize the key as a device for retaining readily removable locking members in their respective positions when the rod sections are not connected with one another.

Other and further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view, in longitudinal section, of a connection joint showing parts of two pump rod sections interlocked with one another;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one rod section slightly withdrawn from the interlocking position;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a tool for operating the key for the locking members;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

lgig, 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2, an

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing an alternate form for abutting parts or two rod sections, one of the rod sections being shown slightly withdrawn from the other.

Referring to the drawing, the lower end of each rod section includes a lower head 2| and the upper end of each section includes an upper head I. The joined parts of two rods I and ID are shown in the drawing. These heads are provided with interlocking means for readily and securely connecting the rod sections together to form a pump rod. Thus these rod sections are especially adapted for use in oil well pumping where lengthy pump or sucker rods are required and wherein it is desirable to readily dismantle or lengthen the rod.

The head 1 is provided with a socket 24 having its opening at 32 and an annular beveled shoulder 26 formed at its inner end. An axial bore 28 opens into the inner end of the socket 24 and extends into the head, terminating at H. The walls of the socket 24 have three annular grooves 4 formed therein, the walls of the grooves having an arcuate configuration when viewed in cross section. A slot '8 is formed transversely through the head I and intersects the closed end portion of the bore 28. The lower wall of the slot 8 is sloped upwardly from either end, as shown at 42, the purpose of which will be disclosed hereinafter.

The head 2| is provided with an end section 25, that is adapted to be extended into the socket 24, the end of the section. being beveled to fit against the beveled shoulder 26. An axial bore 5, terminating at I5, is formed in the end section 25 having the same diameter as the bore 28 and when the end section 25 is extended into the socket 24, the two bores are adapted to be in alignment. A slot 2, similar to the slot 8, is

formed through the head 2| and intersects the closed end of the bore 5. The upper wall of the slot 2 is sloped downwardly from each end as shown at 33.

In the form of embodiment shown in Figs. 1

, in that position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. i 3 is adapted to actuate all three series of locking i members simultaneously, and also retains the Preferably, the key fits opening 32 and a pair of lugs II are formed on the shoulder 3| for engaging in the notches I! when the end section is extended into the socket for preventing rotation of the rod sections I and Ill relative to one another. If itis desirable to permit the rod sections to rotate relative to one another, the end edges of the socket 24 and the shoulder between the head '2I and section 25 are preferably formed at right angles to the axes of the heads, as shown in Fig. 7, and present flat surfaces that abut when the rod sections are connected together.

The end section 25 is provided with three series of locking members which are spaced along the length of the section. The locking members may be of any suitable form, and in the preferred form they comprise ball bearings 4A each one of which is disposed in an opening II formed in the walls of the end section. Each series of locking members comprises, for example, four balls, each ball being spaced ninety degrees from the adjacent ball. The series of locking members are spaced along the end section 25 so that each series will be in alignment with one of the grooves 4 when the end section 25 is fully in,- serted into the socket 24. The outer edge of the openings II are constricted by crowding the metal therearound into the openings as shown at 39, for limiting the projection of the balls 4A outwardly from the openings when the section 25 is removed from the socket.

The locking members or. balls 4A are adapted to be retained also in the opening I I and to be moved-outwardly in the openings II by a pin or key member 3, disposed in the bore 5. "The key 3 is provided with three annular grooves I2 spaced along the key so that they may be'movedin registering relation with the balls 4A. The cross section of the grooves I2 is semi-circular and the grooves are sufliciently deep that the balls 4A may recede therein without protruding outwardly through the openings I I. is moved so that the grooves I2 register with the balls 4A as shown in- Fig. 2, the ballsmay be moved inside the walls of the end section 25 and the end section removed or inserted in the socket 24 without interference.

I 2 Will grooves 4. The body of the key will retain the balls 4A locking members in the openings II at all times, 1 thus preventing losing of these members when 1 the end section and socket are separated. The length of the key member 3 is such that one end 1 thereof will protrude into either one 2 or 8 at-all times, and will be moved axially in f both bores and 28. The ends of the key member are preferably rounded, asare the closed ends I5 and" of the bores 5 and 28 respectively. tightly in the bore 5 so jthat pressure is required to move the key, thus jpreventing the key from accidentally changing 1 its position or dropping from the bore.

j In joining one rod section with another, the key 3 is driven upwardly into the bore 5 as shown jin Fig. 2, and the end section 25 inserted in gthe socket 24 so that the end thereof abuts the shoulder 25 and the openings I I are in alignment with the grooves 4. the grooves The balls 4A will recede into I2 and will not interfere with the in- Thus when the key 3 When the key 3 is.

moved downwardly from the above described position, the curved walls of the grooves move all the balls 4A outwardly and cause the ,5 3 extended parts. thereof to project into the of the slots the narrow end The key grooves 4, the body of sertion of the end section. The upper end of the key 3 will extend into the slot 2 and abut the end II of the bore 5. A wedge shaped tool or drift I3 formed to substantially conform to the shape of the slots 2 and 8, is inserted in the slot 2 with thereof between the end of the key 3 and the wall 33. The tool I3 is then driven into the slot' 2 and the sloping wall 33 and the sloping edges I4 of the tool force the key downwardly, causing the curved walls of the grooves I2 to force the balls 4A outwardly into the the key then serving to the grooves 4 thus effectively interlocking the end section 25 with the socket 24. The lower end of the key 3 will extend into the bore 23 and abut the end I I thereof. The tool I3 is removed from the slot 2 and may be used in driving other keys as more rod sections are added to the pump rod.

Each series of balls 4A interlock with the socket 24 at positions spaced ninety degrees around the socket so that an even pull on the locking joint will be efiected to prevent binding of the end section and socket due to stresses on the locking members. By providing three series of locking maintain the balls in members, an exceptionally strong locking joint is effected that will withstand the enormous load of an oil well pump rod.

When the rod sections are to be unlocked, the tool I3 is inserted in the slot 8, with the narrow end between the end of the key 3 and the wall 42, and then driven into the slot. This forces the key upwardly, moving the grooves I2 into alignment with the balls 4A and causing the upper end of the key to engage the end I5 of the bore 5 and move the rod section I upwardly to separate the end section 25 from the end of the socket 24. The upward movement of the end section 25 causes the curved walls of the grooves 4 to move the balls 4A into the grooves I2 and unlock the end section from the socket. The tool I3 is then removed from the slot andmay be used to unlock other connections.

It is apparent from the drawing that the tool I3 and key 3 provide a means for readily dislodging the end section 25 should it become frozen in the socket due to dirt or corrosion.

It is apparent from the above description that I have provided an exceptionally rugged compact and easily operated connecting joint for pump rod sections. These pump rod sections are par ticularly adaptable for use in connection with oil well pumps where it is desirable to have lengthy pump rods that may be easily dismantled or additions made thereto.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In'combination, two pump rod sections, one of said rod sections having locking means disposed adjacent one end thereof for interlocking said end with an end of the other of said rod sections, each of said rod sections having an axially extending opening formed therein adjacent said ends; a member disposed in said openings and adapted to be moved axially for actuating said locking means, each of said rods having a transverse opening intersecting the axial opening for receiving a tool for actuating said member, tending into one of said transverse openings when the said locking means is actuated to interlock said member having a part thereof ex-- said rod sections and having a part extending into the other of said transverse openings when the locking means is actuated to unlock said rod sections.

2. In combination, two pump rod sections, one of said rod sections having locking means disposed adjacent one end thereof for interlocking said end with an end of the other of said rod sections, each of said rod sections having an axially extending opening formed therein adjacent said ends; a member disposed in said openings and adapted to be moved axially for actuating said locking means, each of said rods having a transverse opening intersecting the axial opening for receiving a tool for actuating said member, one end of said member being adapted to extend into one of said transverse openings, and the other end of said member being adapted to extend into the other of said transverse openings.

CLINTON H. M. BULL. 

